[Gardner syndrome]

A case of Gardner syndrome associated with alterations of the skin and bones and precancerous gastrointestinal polyposis is presented. Particular interest attached to the extension of polyposis to the entire digestive tract, the early appearance of abdominal signs attributable to the polyposis, and - as new symptoms - polycystic lung and widespread superficial naevus lipomatosus.

[Progressive cardiomyopathic lentiginosis (LEOPARD syndrome) in 3 patients, combined with Marfan syndrome]

We report on 4 cases of profuse lentiginosis (LEOPARD syndrome); 3 of these were familial and associated with Marfan's syndrome. This combination has, to the best of our knowledge, never been mentioned before. In addition we found alterations of the blood vessels never described so far. Our 4th patient is an 18-year-old girl sporadically suffering from LEOPARD syndrome.

[Progressive cardiomyopathic lentiginosis (Leopard syndrome, Moynahan syndrome)]

In connection of a sporadic and three familary cases a syndrome involving the skin, heart, eyes, bone-system, hearing organs and genitales is presented. As leading sign of the syndrome, profuse lentigiosis is held to be. Based on this finding, involvement of the other organs may occur too. Specialty of our cases is Marfan-syndrome associated with Leopard syndrome, and blood-vessel anomaly as a new alteration.

[Postoperative lymph node scintigraphy in patients with malignant melanoma]

Completeness of regional lymph node dissection was controlled in 23 patients with melanoma malignum. For that purpose 3--6 weeks after block-dissection lymph node scintigraphy was performed, by administration of intercostal and interdigital radiopharmacutical. Blockdissection was considered as complete, when neither after intercostal, nor after interdigital administration, any lymph nodes were delineated. On the basis of investigations until now, postoperative lymph node scintigraphy proves to be suitable, held to be a non-invasive method for controlling completeness of blockdissection.

Bone-scintigraphic examinations in patients treated with retinoids: a prospective study

Possible early side-effects of retinoid treatment on bones were studied with the aid of bone-scintigraphy. Isotretinoin treatment (1.0 mg/kg daily for 4 months) was given to 18 patients with acne. Fifteen patients with psoriasis received etretinate treatment (0.7-1.0 mg/kg/day) for 4 months. In the group treated with isotretinoin, pathological uptake of radiolabel was found in three cases, while in the group treated with etretinate, no bone changes attributable to treatment were found. During isotretinoin treatment, a decrease in growth-plate activity was observed. Bone-scintigraphy is considered to be a suitable method for early screening for bone changes occurring in retinoid treatment.

[Scintigraphic studies of the lymph nodes in patients with melanoma following lymph node excision]

We report on 20 patients suffering from malignant melanoma, who had undergone regional lymph node dissection. In order to make certain that all the lymph nodes had been completely removed, we performed lymphoscintigraphy 3 to 6 weeks after block dissection with the help of a radiopharmacon intercostally or interdigitally applied. We judged the removal to be complete, if neither intercostal nor interdigital application led to any evidence of regional lymph nodes. On the basis of our experiences so far, we consider postoperative lymphoscintigraphy a suitable non-invasive method to check the completeness of block dissection.

[Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet syndrome)]

6 own patients including atypical cases of Sweet's syndrome are presented; iodide and colchicine were an effective treatment.

Spermatological investigations in patients treated with etretinate and isotretinoin

Possible side effects of the retinoids etretinate and isotretinoin on the germinal epithelium were examined. 15 men received etretinate and 13 isotretinoin. After 16 weeks of treatment at therapeutic doses, no changes were observed in fundamental spermatological parameters. On the basis of examinations and data in the literature, we hold the opinion that retinoid treatment is to be considered safe from the andrological viewpoint.

[Amiodarone-induced hyperpigmentation]

Five patients are reported in whom brownish grey discoloration occurred on the light-exposed parts of the dermis after long-term amiodarone-medication. Histological investigation shows that the deposition of lipofuscin in the small veins and perivasal superior part of the corium is responsible for the occurrence of this discoloration. With reference to recent data in the literature, the pathomechanism and prevention of this pigmentation are discussed.

Treatment of oligozoospermia with tamoxifen (open and controlled studies)

Open and double-blind therapeutic studies were carried out on the effects of tamoxifen in oligozoospermia. The examinations involved 74 patients. The first group (n = 20) received tamoxifen 20 mg/day; the second group (n = 54) got tamoxifen or placebo for 3 months. In the open study, tamoxifen treatment led to significant increases in the spermatozoa concentration and the total sperm count, but this could not be confirmed with the double-blind set-up.

[Correlation between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases (author's transl)]

18 out of 137 psoriasis-patients had cardio-vascular complications (myocardial infarction: 3, angina pectoris: 5, deep vein thrombosis: 3, superficial thrombophlebitis: 6, sudden death: 1). Predisposing factors may be found, however, the preliminary results reveal that psoriasis does not predispose to cardio-vascular complications by itself. An exception is psoriatic arthritis.

[Appearance of disseminated hyperpigmented lesions during PUVA therapy]

Disseminated, hyperpigmented lesions were observed in two patients with psoriasis under PUVA treatment independently from psoriatic lesions. Light microscopic examination revealed besides hypertrophy of melanocytes no considerable changes. Additionally to the formation of large melanosomes (Longitudinal diameter over 8,8 micrometers) and the pronounced melanin-storage in the melanophages, electron microscopic results referred to degenerative processes of melanocytes and the epidermal basal lamina.